Changing Year Group due to Different Starting Age

[fore51]

Hi,

We are moving to Hong Kong in January or June 2010 - depending on when our kids can get into the school.

One area that is concerning me now is the different starting ages. My two boys are both born in October. In the Australian system, my eldest would be just completing Year 1, but if we were to transfer now, he would be starting Year 3.

How do the schools or parents cope with having these kids pushed up to a higher year group.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I know the move is going to be disruptive enough.

Thanks Karen

 

[rani]

Fore51,

If you're looking at an ESF school, your child will be interviewed and if they feel he's not ready for Y3, the teacher will recommend he go into Y2. This happens quite frequently, so don't worry.

 

[sea princess]

Fore 51.
Makes it tricky coming from Australia because whilst they can be put into earlier grades as mentioned, they're often socially better developed than children in that year group and as a conseqence you can have 2 years age difference.
Have lots of Australian friends who have struggled with this transition also.
You might want to look at some of the international schools (if money is not an issue and work has debentures) as some operate on a September cut off, that is they have to be 4 by September to enter Reception (prep year in Aus), 5 by September for P1 (grade 1) and so on. That way the gap is only one year for your boys?
Feel free to PM me if you need any other bits of info.
Good Luck.

 

[sea princess]

Oh, one other thing. Try and get schooling sorted out as early as possible for the kids. I think it is one of the biggest stresses for us parents moving to HK and it can be very depressing being put on wait lists and having nothing secure for the kids!
Get the company involved to help you secure a place, pay a debenture as part of you re-location. If you are wanting an ESF school, they will need a residential address as you are zoned into the school closest to your residence so can only be done when this is confirmed.

 

[fore51]

Thanks i for your comments and advice

Sea Princess, with the Australian kids who ended up with the younger age group - did it all work out in the end, or was it an on-going problem throughout their stay.

Thank you for your offer of help - I am sure I will take it up as our move gets closer. The timing of our move is based on when we can get the kids into a school - which as you suggested is proving difficult. I am sure it will all work out in the end.

 

[sea princess]

Hi
All worked out in the end and the kids are really happy in their school. However, the school my friend thought she was going to put her children in, didn't end up the school of choice. She felt the year differences in the ESF system was too significant and forked out the cash for an international school (smaller class numbers so more one on one to help the kids get up to date).
Best of luck with your relocation.

 

[fore51]

Hi,
I can understand her decision not to put her children in ESF. Which International School did she put them into?? We would definitely prefer smaller classes.

 

[saun-mom]

We were also concerned about the jump up in year group- my November-born son was starting 2nd grade in the US, and was scheduled to start year 4 here at ESF- this seemed very scary, till we realized that it was skipping one year, not two- in the US, our "Kindergarten" is what is called Year 1 here. Its worked out for him, he went from being a very smart, oldest kid in the class, to the very smart, youngest kid in the class. There are occasionally issues, mostly social, but its worked out. Its dependent on each child's ability, and I expressed this with the ESF people- they indicated that if he was struggling, they'd move him down. (wasn't needed after all, so not sure if they would have actually done it)

Re the particular ESF school you end up in- as I understand it- if you're moving here fresh, you don't have to have proof of address, they'll just put you in the school that has spaces. If you're moving inside the ESF system, then you have to have proof of address before they'll put you on the wait list. (very irritating)

 

[sea princess]

Hi Fore 51
Just sent you a PM with extra details.

 

[juringoh]

Hi Saun, may i know which ESF school is your child attending? I understand that ESF schools do not allow or practice grade skipping even if your child is advance or gifted?